Programme Manager – Farm to Market Alliance

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. Driven by a vision of a better world where all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably, SNV strengthens capacities and catalyses partnerships that transform agri-food, energy, and water systems. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.

With 60 years of experience and a team of approximately 1,600 people, we support our partners in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia, tailoring our approaches to different contexts to achieve large-scale impact and create more equitable lives for all.

Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion, are fundamental to who we are, and what we do. This is reflected in our vision and mission, and strategy, which sets out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030.

For more information on SNV, please refer to our website: www.snv.org

SNV is recruiting an experienced Programme Manager, for the World Food Programme funded Farm to Market Alliance, who is part of an SNV Rwanda Country Office. 

The Programme Manager leads and manages the implementation, closing and the workforce of the project, within scope, budget, timeline and acceptable quality levels along the commitments specified in the contracts signed with the donor(s) and other relevant stakeholders. The programme supports national efforts to enhance the food security and incomes of smallholder farmers, especially women, through targeted activities at the food system, cooperative, and individual farmer levels. This Programme contributes to strengthening smallholder farmers increasing their marketable surplus through climate-smart solutions, including access to improved inputs and extension services, improving quality of grains and legumes, reducing postharvest losses, and enhancing access to finance and predictable markets.  

Key Responsibilities

• Project Management: Leads, manages and motivates the project team, partners and relevant stakeholders. Plans and assigns deliverables and activities, reviews their progress and addresses deviations in terms of timelines and quality, based on project planning, deliverables agreed and budget set. Manages project closure and evaluation process including hand-over of complete and up-to-date project file to the Sector Leader, Country Director and Business Development unit based on project management procedures. 

• Access To Markets Linkage: Leads and contributes to strengthening smallholder farmers increasing their marketable surplus through climate-smart solutions, including access to improved inputs and extension services, improving quality of grains and legumes, reducing postharvest losses, and enhancing access to finance and predictable markets.  

• Project Quality Assurance: Takes responsibility for the (technical) content of a project, ensures quality of the deliverables and ensures sufficient technical input to meet the quality standards. 

• Stakeholder Management: Builds and maintains professional, collaborative and constructive relationships with project partners, key governments stakeholders and project donor. 

• Contract Management & Project Accounting: Manages and accounts for full compliance of administrative, finance and HR components of the project with SNV internal procedures and requirements specified in the donor-, sub-grant-, sub-consultancy-, partner-, consortium- and Local Capacity Builders contracts. Ensures that approval for, coding and booking of all expenditures is done according to the relevant procedures and authorisation levels. Prepares, accounts for, manages and reports on project budget (and revisions thereof). Discusses and obtains approval of donor for contract / budget deviations. Ensures security and (financial risk) mitigation (incl. due diligence). Fully understands procurement and comply with requirements and contracts. 

• People Management & Team Leadership: Guides, develops, coaches and motivates team members and prepares resource estimation based on forecast in order to attract and recruit (SNV staff, consultants and/or Local Capacity Builders). Advises HR and country management on contract conditions for consultants and Local Capacity Builders, within guidelines and project budget. 

• Business Development: Builds and maintains effective relationships, with team, external partners and the donor(s) by ensuring a high level of SNV visibility and branding. Signals and acts on potential for positioning, innovation, upscaling and potential to leverage programme funds. Timely recognises and analyses threats and makes sure relevant colleagues are informed. 

• Analysis & Reporting: Ensures collection, consolidation and review of project information, according to SNV’s monitoring and evaluation guidelines. Analyses and provides advice to management how to incorporate the new insights/best practices into the organisation’s policies and practices. 

• Knowledge Development: Contributes to internal and external knowledge development, by full documentation and sharing of project insights and results. Develops knowledge by attending workshops and conferences. Ensures lessons learned are shared and applied in daily practice. When applicable can be appointed as (national) focal point of an expertise network. 

• Master’s degree in agriculture, Rural Development, Environmental Sciences or relevant discipline or equivalent work experience.

• Minimum 8 years relevant experience in development work, project management and sector(s) 

• Experience managing large budgets (over $1m/annum)  

• Understanding of Rwandan agriculture sector and energy sector 

• Strong & proven experience working with cooperatives, cooperative development 

• Strong experience and expertise in market development/access to market  

• Working experience with a geographically disbursed team 

• Proven experience in program monitoring and reporting 

• Strong analytical thinking skills, ability to multi-task and supervise project staff with varying skillsets and levels of experience 

• Strong strategic decision-making and excellent communicator to help transfer technical learnings to non-technical audiences 

• Strong leadership skills, experience in partnership development & deep understanding and experience in consortia management   

• Knowledge of evidence-based practices related to gender and social inclusion, market systems development and inclusive value chains 

• Fluency in both written and spoken English 

• Excellent communication skills, fluent in English and Kinyarwanda 

• Willingness to travel to all programme/project locations, including remote, rural areas 

Terms of appointment:

• Contract Type: Full time (40 hours per week)
• Contract Duration: 7 months 
• Duty Station: Kigali

How to apply:

Your application file should include: Motivation letter, updated CV which has 3 professional references, including current and previous direct supervisors with their full names, phone number and email address. 

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to submit your application file containing the above mentioned documents consolidated in one PDF file & submitted to the Country Director before May 4, 2026, COB using the Smart Recruiters platform.

Note: This is a national position, qualified Rwandan candidates are encouraged to apply.

Working at SNV   

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts.

SNV strives to be an inclusive employer, thriving on the diversity of its people and does not discriminate on the basis of disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender and sexual orientation, etc.

Shortlisting

Shortlisting and interviews will be done on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Therefore, qualified and interested candidates are highly recommended to submit their applications as soon as they can. Only applicants fulfilling the above requirements will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within one month from the submission date of your application, consider your application unsuccessful.

Reference & vetting check

At SNV, we conduct thorough background and reference checks for all candidates applying for internationally determined positions, with a strong focus on safeguarding. You will be asked to provide contact details for two individuals who can serve as references. Please note, we will only contact your referees with your explicit permission.

As a participant in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, our reference checks also include a request to your previous employers to complete a "Statement of Conduct" questionnaire. This questionnaire addresses any instances of misconduct, including sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment, in line with the Scheme's definitions.

*We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.